Who is YOUR hero?

All of the hubbub surrounding Nina Kraft’s recent admission that she used EPO prior to racing in the Ironman World Championships has brought a lot of unwanted attention to triathlon. The roadies in my local shop – who used to ignore me – were quick to point out the allegations when the news first broke. It was as if I had joined their crowd, as if I was now “in” because one of the heroes of my sport was poised to fall. And while I have often wanted to be a part of that roadie culture – so people would stop making fun of the aerobars on my bike – I have to admit that this was the last thing that I had expected. And it definitely wasn’t what I wanted.

Having been in Kona on race day and watched the day unfold, it came as such a shock to find out that Nina had doped. Sure she was kicking butt by 15 minutes on the bike, but she had won an IM earlier in the year by 25’! This was no first-time racer annihilating the pro ranks – Nina had been an elite for years…this was simply her turn to shine. Or so we all thought.

But if you and I are upset, imagine how the people who raced feel. One of the defining elements of triathlon – of Ironman triathlons – is that we all race together. Same start. Same course. Same conditions. It is part of what makes our community so tight and so supportive – for me, there’s nothing like wishing a pro luck as they tear up the same course I am on. And sure there are given advantages on race day: high tech wetsuits, cutting edge disk wheels, racing flats, but these are all out in the open. I can see who is using a disk. I can’t see who is doping.

So what about the pro athletes? Finding out that your competition is doping must be a real shock. That said, I have mixed feelings about the pro ranks right now. One the one hand I admire their restraint at not openly condemning Nina for her actions. It’s always so easy to point the finger at someone else. But on the other hand, I wonder why they have been so silent.

So now the skeleton is out of the closet. Doping is front and center in long-distance triathlon, and despite what you think, it’s here to stay. There will always be a shadow over our heroes, right?

WRONG.

The sport of triathlon isn’t about heroes, despite what the media has tried to turn it into. The sport of triathlon is a celebration of spirit, of sport, of excellence. The swim/bike/run combination does a great job of eliminating excellence in one area, allowing a larger group of people to compete on common ground. Even though you might not like where you finish, you have to begrudgingly recognize the work, skill and effort your competition has put in to beat you on race day (hey, I don’t like to do it either!).

I say that we make our own heroes. I have a more profound respect for the age-group racer who places top 20 than I do for the pro taking third. And I have even greater respect for the athletes duking it out in their respective age groups.

The sport of triathlon has taken a hit. But it doesn’t have to crash and burn. Triathletes the world round will continue to train, to defy the expectations of their colleagues and to friends, Each of us has a responsibility – to ourselves – to train and race to the best of our ability. This is why we train the way we do. So the next time someone makes a comment about the doping scandals and allegations, just nod your head and let it slide. Look past their penetrating gaze into the reflection of the window behind them, where you can make out the faint outline of a triathlete. For there, my friends, is your real hero.

Train on,

Patrick

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